EC/EU Fact Book: A Complete Guide

Citation

Hudson, R. (2001), "EC/EU Fact Book: A Complete Guide", European Business Review, Vol. 13 No. 6, pp. 377-378. https://doi.org/10.1108/ebr.2001.13.6.377.1

This is a very useful introductory text book and guide to the European Union (EU) in its various roles and manifestations, and it seeks to explain and clarify its history, ambitions, objectives and achievements. The book is, as its title implies, a fact book, through a series of 20 chapters, which leads the reader through the workings of the EU, from its beginnings and its main treaties and institutions to an array of policy areas, which include, among others: social policy, transport policy, monetary union and the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP). The book is particularly useful for detail on the Treaties of Rome, Maastricht and Amsterdam.

In her management of the material, Alex Roney employs the question‐and‐answer technique. For example, she poses such questions as: “What are the official languages of the European Union?”. The reader is informed that there are now 11 official languages and 35 minority languages (by which term, I assume the author is referring to lesser‐used languages) and she adds that with the accession of new countries to the EU, there are likely to be 26 member countries in the future and a possible 15 official languages, although, of course, no date has as yet officially been fixed for the first tranche of European enlargement.

Similarly, the author considers the importance of the commission to its citizens, and the reader is informed that it is:

… a vital source of information as a prime place to lobby for changes to current legislation and standards, and as a guardian of citizen’s rights, as well as being the administrator of various funds and grants.

Rather intriguingly, we are later informed that:

… the European Parliament recently formed a committee to investigate allegations of mismanagement, fraud and nepotism in the commission.

We learn that Schengen deals with border controls and special provisions for the UK, Denmark and Ireland. Furthermore, within the framework of the same chapter, entitled “EC legislation, lobbying, justice and home affairs” the author provides legal details and information concerning cross‐border crime and international organised crime, while details on asylum seekers and extradition are also considered, along with various strategies concerning drugs, smuggling and the trafficking of women and children for sexual purposes.

In reading this book, I tried to put myself in the position of a student of European studies and soon realised that it served, in effect, as a cornucopia of great enlightenment on the EU. Although, I occasionally felt the questions were not always fully addressed, I can honestly say that this is not necessarily a criticism, because the intelligent reader, once their interest has been raised, may easily seek answers to questions elsewhere. For example, on my first reading of the last chapter on the CFSP, my initial reaction was one of slight irritation with the treatment of the EU’s policy towards the western Balkans, given that issues such as Kosovo, Bosnia and other events concerning the so‐called former Yugoslavia and its successor states only seemed to get a cursory airing, and that little treatment was given to recent and ongoing concerns over the formation of a European army. Then I realised that my appetite had at least been whetted by Alex Roney’s otherwise excellent book, and that I, like any other interested reader could easily seek answers to my questions elsewhere.

The book is supported by a helpful index, useful for cross‐referencing various issues, details and topics. There is also a useful array of appendices, which include a gazetteer on the different EC and EFTA member countries, with information on languages, religions, main industries and major imports and exports, among other things. The reader is also furnished with additional sources of information and a list of EU commissioners. Nevertheless, as an academic, I would also have liked to have seen a bibliography and a guide to further reading.

Now in its sixth edition, this book serves as recommended reading for the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry and its educational scheme’s courses and examinations, for which the book has been prepared. Clearly, it has the businessperson in mind. But, although it is aimed at a specific task, namely an examination, I would argue too that it would also prove very useful to sixth‐form general studies students and pre‐undergraduate level students on access as well as first year undergraduates on European studies courses, especially if it were to be allied with complementary guide, such as Timothy Bainbridge’s Penguin Companion to the European Union (1995), or Keith Middlemass’s Orchestrating Europe (1995).